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February 18, 2007
Smoking is a "criminal offense"...or will be, if HB1851 and SB1325 pass.
"HOUSE BILL 1851
By Bone
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, is amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated part thereto:
§ 39-17-1801. This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Non-Smoker
Protection Act”...§ 39-17-1803. Except at otherwise specifically authorized in § 39-17-1804, smoking is prohibited in all public places and places of employment within the state of Tennessee.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it."
The section that this bill seeks to change is this: Tennessee Code : Title 39 Criminal Offenses : Chapter 17 Offenses Against Public Health, Safety and Welfare. That is, if this bill passes then smoking will be a "class-C misdemeanor."
I don't know whether or not I shall post more about this later, but I will at least make this comment. First, our legislature--and many other legislatures around this country--are "criminalizing" an act that has been allowed for at least four-hundred years. I am not here commenting upon whether or not smoking should be a misdemeanor. I am only observing that for quite some time, it has not been a misdemeanor.
Second, even as our Legislature is seeking to make criminals out of otherwise honest citizens, our Governor is seeking to tax them. And not only that, he will use this money obtained from criminals to fund our schools.
"The argument for a cigarette tax is straightforward: Our schools need more money. (Link.)
Bredesen supports the smoking ban. I suppose, then, that he must agree with our legislators that smoking is a criminal offense. My question is, is it reasonable to fund our school-system with monies received from those who participate in criminal behaviour?
Cigarettes | By Carl | 01:01 AM
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